We’re bidding! UK Town Of Culture 2028

Published: 26 February 2026

We’re bidding! UK Town Of Culture 2028

Deal Town Council has entered the race to become the first-ever UK Town Of Culture.

An expression of interest has been submitted to the Department for Culture, Media & Sport and many thanks to those who completed our short survey, ensuring your voice to lifts our bid. 

In the bid we explained Deal’s story, what makes us unique, our history, culture and what it means to call this town home.

The winning UK Town of Culture 2028 will receive £3 million to deliver a cultural programme in 2028 of around six months. The other two finalists will each receive £250,000 to ensure they are able to take forward key parts of their bids.

Shortlisted expressions of interest will be invited to submit a full application and awarded bid development grants of £60,000.

There are three categories of town; small, medium and large, and Deal would be classified as a medium with a population of 20,000 – 75,000. Deal Town Council will act as the accountable body for the bidding process and create a Deal Cultural Partnership to steer and deliver the programme.

Key competition milestones: Expressions of Interest deadline: 31 March 2026; shortlisted places announced spring 2026; full application period spring 2026 – autumn 2026; panel visits autumn 2026; finalists and winner announced early 2027.

For more information about the bid and how to support it, please contact Climate Change, Project & Communications Officer Nadine Miller on 07388 059833 or email Nadine.miller@deal.gov.uk